of a woman learning to live

Tag: crafts

Guess what? I just found a cheap, simple, and thoroughly cute craft for any occasion. Found, I say, not invented. My mom introduced me to it over Thanksgiving, but our original source is my friend Renee Shafer (A Beautiful Captivation), and her sister Andrea Graybill. Renee made these for a bachelorette party two years ago […]

Confession: Sometimes I am tired of confessing my idiocies. If you’re tired of hearing of them, don’t worry—you’re not nearly as tired as I am of committing them. I told Alison this week that “any organizational/ navigational skills I have are a desperate attempt to get a handle on my naturally forgetful and scatterbrained self. […]

Recently, while browsing the web in search of ideas for simple homemade journals, I stumbled across this gem–how to make a book with only paper, one rubber band, and a “backbone” of choice, such as a twig… …a pencil …or chopsticks. {Check out the instructions here, from twowritingteachers.} It’s too cool an idea, and adaptable […]

Don’t even get me started on pumpkins. I love pumpkins: at this time of year, almost more than any other shape and color. What daffodils are to spring–a concrete encapsulation of the entire point–pumpkins are to fall. Round, rustic, simple, vibrant, fertile, textured, real. And it’s Thanksgiving. Here’s an idea for what to do with […]

Today I’m going to show you how to make a simple checkerboard and set of checkers with a little wood and paint. You will need: One 12″ x 12″ piece of wood or plywood A 12″ section of dowel, 1-1/8″ or 1-1/4″ in diameter Access to a power saw of some kind Four colors of paint: […]

One of the joys of attending Family Week at SMBI was agreeing to organize a craft class for all the children ages 6-12. Ryan and I spent considerable time planning and preparing, then he took charge of the boys (18 of them) and I of the girls (28!). For one hour each day, four different […]